Taran of the Picts
Encyclopedia
Taran son of Ainftech was a King of the Picts (692–96) according to the Pictish king-lists. His name is the same as that of the Gaulish thunder-god, Taranis
.
His father is just a name, which occurs in various forms, e.g., Entifidich in the Poppleton manuscript
, Enfidaig, Amfredech, Anfudeg, and as Amfodech in the French king-list embedded in the Scalacronica
. The list in National Library of Scotland
MS, Advocates' 34.7.3, seems to say that Taran was the brother of King Nechtan m. Der-Ilei
, which could mean that Taran's mother was the Pictish princess Der-Ilei
. However, the latter list is problematic and places the reign of King Bridei m. Der-Ilei
, Nechtan's brother, after Nechtan; on the other hand, the list is one of those that is aware that Bridei was the son of Dargart
, indicating access to material not available to some of the other lists.
Some of the king-lists say he reigned for fourteen years; however, the Poppleton and Lebor Bretnach lists, along with the Scalacronica list, give four years only, so the x may be a mistake. He was almost certainly succeeded by Bruide, the son of Dargart and Der-Ilei, although in what circumstances, it is hard to say.
Entries from the Irish annals
, which Alan Orr Anderson
suggested may be related to this Taran, are a report in the Annals of Ulster
reporting "the killing of Ainfthech and Nia Néill and the sons of Boendo", where Ainfthech may be Taran's father, and then Taran's deposition in 696, and finally the report in the Annals of Ulster that "Tarachin went to Ireland" in 698.
Taranis
In Celtic mythology Taranis was the god of thunder worshipped essentially in Gaul, the British Isles, but also in the Rhineland and Danube regions amongst others, and mentioned, along with Esus and Toutatis as part of a sacred triad, by the Roman poet Lucan in his epic poem Pharsalia as a Celtic...
.
His father is just a name, which occurs in various forms, e.g., Entifidich in the Poppleton manuscript
Poppleton manuscript
The Poppleton Manuscript is the name given to the fourteenth century codex likely compiled by Robert of Poppleton, a Carmelite friar who was the Prior of Hulne, near Alnwick. The manuscript contains numerous works, such as a map of the world , and works by Orosius, Geoffrey of Monmouth and Gerald...
, Enfidaig, Amfredech, Anfudeg, and as Amfodech in the French king-list embedded in the Scalacronica
Scalacronica
Scalacronica is a Scottish chronicle written in Anglo-Norman by the knight Sir Thomas Gray of Heaton in Northumberland, while he was imprisoned by the Scots at Edinburgh after an ambush in 1355...
. The list in National Library of Scotland
National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
MS, Advocates' 34.7.3, seems to say that Taran was the brother of King Nechtan m. Der-Ilei
Nechtan IV of the Picts
Nechtan mac Der-Ilei or Nechtan mac Dargarto was king of the Picts in the early 8th century. He succeeded his brother Bridei in 706. He is associated with significant religious reforms in Pictland. He abdicated in 724 in favour of his nephew and became a monk...
, which could mean that Taran's mother was the Pictish princess Der-Ilei
Der-Ilei
Der-Ilei is believed to have been a daughter, or less probably a sister, of Bridei map Beli, king of the Picts...
. However, the latter list is problematic and places the reign of King Bridei m. Der-Ilei
Bridei IV of the Picts
Bruide mac Der-Ilei was king of the Picts. He became king when Taran was deposed in 697.He was the brother of his successor Nechtan. It has been suggested that Bruide's father was Dargart mac Finguine of the Cenél Comgaill, a kingroup in Dál Riata who controlled Cowal and the Isle of Bute...
, Nechtan's brother, after Nechtan; on the other hand, the list is one of those that is aware that Bridei was the son of Dargart
Dargart mac Finguine
Dargart mac Finguine was a member of the Cenél Comgaill kindred, after which Cowal in Scotland is named. The only event directly connected with him in the Irish annals, based on a chronicle then being kept on Iona, is his death....
, indicating access to material not available to some of the other lists.
Some of the king-lists say he reigned for fourteen years; however, the Poppleton and Lebor Bretnach lists, along with the Scalacronica list, give four years only, so the x may be a mistake. He was almost certainly succeeded by Bruide, the son of Dargart and Der-Ilei, although in what circumstances, it is hard to say.
Entries from the Irish annals
Irish annals
A number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
, which Alan Orr Anderson
Alan Orr Anderson
Alan Orr Anderson was a Scottish historian and compiler. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh. The son of Rev. John Anderson and Ann Masson, he was born in 1879...
suggested may be related to this Taran, are a report in the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
reporting "the killing of Ainfthech and Nia Néill and the sons of Boendo", where Ainfthech may be Taran's father, and then Taran's deposition in 696, and finally the report in the Annals of Ulster that "Tarachin went to Ireland" in 698.